No change at the top for Bok Women as WXV looms
SPOTLIGHT: The Springbok Women will maintain their current coaching structure despite the resignation of head coach Swys de Bruin, assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt has confirmed.
Speaking following the Springbok Women’s 20-52 defeat to the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium last Saturday, Johannes-Haupt said there would be little change as the team turns its attention to the upcoming WXV campaign.
Ahead of the historic showdown between the Springbok Women and Black Ferns, news broke that De Bruin had resigned from his role as head coach.
*READ: Swys de Bruin sheds light on his resignation
While his resignation came as a major shock to the public, De Bruin told Rugby365 that SA Rugby and the coaching staff had full knowledge of his decision.
In his absence, SA Rugby enlisted the help of Junior Springboks assistant coach Melusi Mthethwa to prepare the team for the Soweto showdown, while Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September served as co-head coaches.
The pair have also guided the Bok Women in Fiji and at the Rugby Africa Cup in Kenya.
*READ: Who is Malusi Mthethwa?
“For now, we will stay the way we are. Coach Melusi will still be part of us,” Johannes-Haupt told reporters after the defeat in Soweto.
“It’s nice to have Melusi around.
“His energy has been amazing.
“He brings a different perspective of how he does attack. We’ve had coach Swys as our attacking coach, and he was brilliant as well, so this is just another variation of how we want to play.”
The Springbok Women will have away fixtures against Wales and Italy as part of WXV before Ireland travel to Cape Town for a two-Test series in October.
